JOHN McCLAIN, Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle |
November 26, 2010

Bud Adams' team returns to the place of its birth, the place where he’s still reviled after all these years.

Bud Adams, the finger-flipping Titans owner, loves to be in this position.

Especially this week when his team is returning to the place of its birth, the place where he's still reviled after all these years.

Adams turns 88 on Jan. 3 — the anniversary of the Buffalo game, by the way — and he likes to remind his employees in Tennessee, especially his popular coach, Jeff Fisher, that he's still the boss.

The controversy between Fisher and quarterback Vince Young has cast Adams in the spotlight. Now he can show everybody he's still alive and kicking and loving every minute of it.

Adams likes it when the pot is stirred. He especially likes to stir it a little himself, because it shows his people not to take him for granted just because there's been some disconnect between Nashville and Houston.

Adams likes attention. It regenerates him. He also likes controversy. And he loves it when he can contribute to that controversy, which he did in a big way this week.

Young's child-like tantrum after the Titans' overtime loss to Washington, which included insulting and embarrassing Fisher before storming out of the dressing room, has relegated him to persona non grata with his head coach.

More marching orders

When contacted by the Tennessean, Adams refused to support Fisher. He basically called it a relationship that must be repaired and told Fisher to work it out with Young.

That kind of response from Adams was inexcusable. Fisher must have been infuriated when he read it.

We all know that Adams made the Titans draft Young. He made Fisher start Young as a rookie. He made Fisher play Young after an 0-6 start last season.

And Adams loves for people to know he ordered Fisher to do it.

This time, though, Adams should have supported Fisher. The owner sent the wrong message to Young and all of the Titans' players.

Here's what Adams should have said: "VY has always been my guy, but there's no excuse for behavior like that, and it won't be tolerated in my organization. I give coach Fisher my full support, and I back him 100 percent."

Young should have called a news conference in Nashville. He should have fallen on the sword and apologized to Fisher, his coaches, his teammates and Titans fans.

We're a forgiving society. Young would have been criticized for a few days, and then it would have been a non-issue because he's on injured reserve and should be out of sight and out of mind.

Charley Casserly on Thursday reported that Adams is expected to pay Young his $4.25 million roster bonus that's due in March. If that's true — and who knows how Adams is going to react in 3 ½ months — it would mean that Young will return and make $12 million in the last year of his contract.

Decision time coming

Fisher has one year left on his contract. He's one of the best and highest-paid coaches in the league, but it would be cheaper to keep Fisher and get rid of Young.

Adams doesn't want to fire Fisher because he'll have to pay his coach. Fisher doesn't want to resign because he wants to be paid what he's earned after sticking with Adams for 17 years.

Either way, Fisher will have another job offer before sunset on the day he leaves or is shown the door.

The worst possible situation would have Adams forcing Fisher to take Young back, but that's a possibility.

Young should meet with Tony Dungy so he can learn how to be a professional and a genuine leader. Then, Young needs a new zip code. He needs a new team that can revitalize his confidence and rebuild his reputation.

The Titans need a new quarterback, somebody like Philadelphia's Kevin Kolb.

Ultimately, Adams should have nothing to do with this decision. His people in Nashville — Fisher, senior executive vice president Steve Underwood and general manager Mike Reinfeldt — should make the decision.

That's why he hired them. That should be good enough, but it may not be because it would mean that Adams is no longer loomin' large and in charge.

John McClain can be heard on 610 AM at 8:30 a.m. Mondays, 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays and 4:30 p.m. Fridays.